The Ecstatics were a pop-punk band hailing from eastern Long Island in the early 80s. I caught them as an opening band at My Fathers Place, a hub for all things new wave back in the day. The A side of this 45 "Breaking Glass" has a Distractions/Undertones feel and a cool driving tempo change toward the songs end. It is a melodramatic tune about doomed love ("she took the ride and then she died with me..."). Although the real tragedy here is that the singer Mark Gustafson was killed tragically by a motorist during a blizzard. As far as I know, this is the only record released by this promising young group. Guitarist Jon Ceparano went on to form the swinging lounge band Jet Set Six.

-Stephen Lombardo